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<\/a><\/p>\n Giselle Philogene stars as Ashleigh, Alyla Browne plays the older Sarah, and newcomer Luca Miller is E.J.
\n Stan<\/p>\n
One story \u2013 many genres<\/p>\n
The film follows Sarah and Nita as they they move forward and build a community after tragic loss. It\u2019s also a coming-of-age story about a tween girl finding her place in a new environment. It has drama, comedy, adventure and a clear environmental message. While the overall narrative is strong, some of the genre elements and tonal shifts work better than others.<\/p>\n
Whale Shark Jack joins a well established canon of Australian wildlife films. With support from the Australian Children\u2019s Television Foundation, it seems to mainly want to attract a younger audience.<\/p>\n
In doing so, the film is sometimes overly sentimental and occasionally didactic, particularly in early scenes with the younger Sarah. Moments featuring Luca Miller\u2019s straight-talking E.J. and Karen O\u2019Leary\u2019s quirky coast guard, Rosie, bring some much needed humour \u2013 but they are few and far between. The film\u2019s sombre moments are compelling, and Alyla Browne carries its most emotional scenes.<\/p>\n
At just 85 minutes, the story is engaging and doesn\u2019t overstay its welcome, but it does miss an opportunity to develop Sarah\u2019s relationship with her father. So viewers might struggle to really mourn his loss, except through Browne and Cornish\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n
Showcasing Ningaloo<\/p>\n
The film mostly succeeds as a showcase for the landscapes, wildlife and marine life of Ningaloo and Exmouth.<\/p>\n
The flat, red earth makes for a striking contrast to the bright, blue ocean. Shots of Sarah swimming with Jack are visually impressive and show off Browne\u2019s diving skills (she trained for two years in preparation for the role). The production team uses spectacular puppetry and effects to create the whale sharks.<\/p>\n
Whale sharks are considered endangered<\/a>, and the filmmakers said they wanted to highlight the \u201cfragile reality\u201d these animals face due to \u201cclimate change, habitat loss, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices\u201d. Whale Shark Jack doesn\u2019t dwell much on these threats, but it may still inspire curiosity and care in its audience.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a thoughtful celebration of the local Baiyungu language and culture. Screenwriter Kathryn Lefroy collaborated with associate producer and Baiyungu Traditional Owner Hazel Walgar<\/a> to develop the characters of E.J. and his parents. <\/p>\n